Historical eventAugust 11842

Lombard Street riot

Three days of rioting erupted after a parade in Philadelphia, celebrating the end of slavery in the West Indies, was attacked by a mob.

In context

When
Monday, August 1 1842184 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
19th century · 1840s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: From 1842.

What came before

Background In 1842, the Black community of Philadelphia was concentrated in what is now known as the Washington Square and Society Hill areas of Philadelphia. At nearly 20,000 people [ 1 ] this population was larger the whole population (Black and white) of Buffalo, New York. [ 2 ] Social, economic, religious and political stratification and diversity existed with this community. This included a large working class population organized into over 17 churches, hundreds of mutual aid societies,

What happened

The Lombard Street riot was a racially motivated mob attack on the free Black community in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 1, 1842.

August 1 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1842Lombard Street riot
  2. 1991George H. W. Bush
  3. 1993Great Flood of 1993
  4. 1998Puntland
  5. 2004Ycuá Bolaños supermarket fire
  6. 2007I-35W Mississippi River bridge
  7. 2008Beijing–Tianjin intercity railway
  8. 20082008 K2 disaster
  9. 2009Tel Aviv gay centre shooting
  10. 2017August 2017 Herat mosque attack
  11. 2023Donald Trump

Also in 1842

  • August 29Treaty of NankingUnder the Treaty of Nanking, an "unequal treaty" that ended the First Opium War, the Chinese island from which Hong Kong would grow was c…
  • November 26University of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame (building pictured) was founded by Edward Sorin of the Congregation of Holy Cross as an all-male institution…
  • January 13First Anglo-Afghan WarFirst Anglo-Afghan War: William Brydon, an assistant surgeon in the British Army, was the sole European of the 14,000 people retreating f…
  • May 8Versailles rail accidentA train derailed and caught fire near Versailles, France, killing at least 52 people.
  • March 9Rancho San FranciscoAwaking from a nap under a tree at Rancho San Francisco, Francisco López made the first popularly documented discovery of gold in Califor…
  • March 9NabuccoNabucco, an opera by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi that established his reputation, premiered at La Scala in Milan.

Everything we record for 1842 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Lombard Street riot”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/lombard-street-riot-1842-august-1, accessed October 29, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Lombard Street riot happen?

August 1 1842 — 184 years ago, on a Monday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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